Generally speaking, I don’t like surprises. I tend to get embarrassed by the effort that people put forth, not to mention having to be the center of attention. As a kid, I would duck under the kitchen table when my family sang “Happy Birthday” to me — a moment my family will still remind me of no matter whose birthday it happens to be.
There are, though, only two surprises that I can take. The first is a Joe surprise, one where he plans out a day-long adventure. I am only told to be ready to leave by a certain time, and then off we go to our destination. I think Joe has as much fun giving me clues as I have trying to guess the destination.
The second surprise comes from my plants. I imagine them putting their colorful heads together and coming up with creative ways to entertain me and keep me on my toes.
A few posts ago about gardening quotes, I credited my friend and co-worker, Alisa, with this one: “Gardening is like a natural suprise party.” Although we laughed when she uttered this about 15 years ago, I catch myself saying it over and over, sometimes weekly, sometimes daily. It has become a mantra of sorts, something to keep me from stressing out when I spot something growing that I never planned.
If you would like to see a few pictures from this year’s surprise party, just click on the “Continue Reading” link.
